Helen Hatzis
Independent travel to Afghanistan remains possible in 2026, though it requires careful preparation and an understanding of current entry rules and movement restrictions. The country has issued tourist visas through more embassies than in the immediate post-2021 period, and an e-visa option now exists for arrivals at Kabul airport. Travelers continue to report on the
Pass Christian, Mississippi – Staff at Woodside Wildlife Rescue run a structured program that helps orphaned and injured raccoon kits develop the survival skills their mothers would normally teach. The effort takes place on a 20-acre property of meadows, forest, and ponds near the Gulf Coast. Dozens of kits arrive each year after storms, traffic
Monticello stands as a living classroom where travelers can engage directly with the layered story of early America. A fifteen-year effort by archaeologists, genealogists, molecular geneticists, and historians has now delivered clear DNA evidence from Thomas Jefferson’s own hair that links him to the children of Sally Hemings. The findings add depth to the narrative
El Niño has returned with notable strength, reshaping seasonal weather across many regions travelers love to explore. This recurring climate pattern, which develops in the Pacific and influences global conditions, is expected to reach a powerful phase by the close of 2026. Understanding its typical effects allows for more intentional planning that respects both destinations
San Pablo Bay, California – On a quiet Wednesday morning in September 2026, the calm waters of the bay became the setting for an unexpected sight. Fisherman Zach Medinas, 57, and his crew were out on their regular outing when they noticed a full-size two-story house moving steadily across the water, pulled by a small
Los Angeles reveals itself differently once children reach their teens. A young child sees bright lights and rides. A teenager begins to measure personal ambitions against the city’s creative energy and open possibilities. That shift became clear one afternoon when my daughter stood on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, searching for a particular star with
Los Angeles has gained a striking new cultural landmark with the public opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The institution, devoted entirely to the art of visual storytelling, welcomes visitors starting Tuesday in the city’s historic Exposition Park. Its arrival marks a notable addition to the region’s rich landscape of museums and creative
Travelers seeking a closer connection to the high desert landscapes of northern New Mexico will soon have a new option that combines the comforts of a major hospitality brand with the simplicity of tented living. Under Canvas, already part of the World of Hyatt portfolio, plans to open its first New Mexico property near Santa
New York City – A herd of 40 life-size buffalo puppets moved through the streets of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn in recent days, turning ordinary sidewalks into an unexpected stage for public theater. The procession formed part of a project organized by St. Ann’s Warehouse, a Brooklyn-based theater company known for innovative community work. The
Travelers who value control over their digital footprint now have one more tool at their disposal. Apple has introduced a change to its Find My service that allows iPhone users to make their location invisible to others, including friends and family who might previously have tracked them through the app. After the update takes effect,
Piddington sits quietly in the Oxfordshire countryside, a small English village of roughly 350 residents whose recent actions have drawn unexpected attention. The parish council has signaled it may formally request to join the United States if national plans to house asylum seekers at a nearby former military site proceed. This development follows a symbolic
Cape Canaveral, Florida – A powerful impact two years ago left a fresh crater on the moon that went unnoticed at the time. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter later captured clear images of the site, revealing a steep-sided depression far larger than the Roman Colosseum. The discovery adds a rare data point to ongoing studies of